We start by sharing our college stories, which were very different from a financial perspective.  Maggie went to the University of Georgia, had a full state-funded tuition scholarship, was given a smaller amount of money from her parents to help cover costs, and worked multiple jobs.  Mike went to the University of Michigan, paid full-price out of state tuition, was given a very large amount in college savings from his parents, and did not work though he played on the lacrosse team which was a big time commitment.  In this episode we discuss:Is college worth it?  Do you need to go to college to be successful in life?Is there any benefit to going to a more expensive or higher-ranked college?You should trust your gut and make decisions based on the reality of your kid(s) and their capabilities and unique needs.  Even consider the ROI of a college investment and what your child is planning to do with that degree after college. How should you pay for college?  There are scholarships, credits your kids can earn while still in high-school, loans, kids working during school, and more.  How can you plan for it now?  Save early by starting a 529 plan.  Contribute as much money as possible as early as possible, so that it has as much time to grow as possible.  Mike explains the pros and cons of choosing your own state’s 529 account vs. another.  529 accounts from different states and how that all works.  Our top 3 takeaways for this episode:College is worth it, so plan for it.  But make sure the specific situation is worth it for your child: rank of school, cost of school, benefit for the kid, cultural fit, ROI of the cost of their education vs. what it’s going to help them with in life.  Don’t saddle your kids with debt.  This doesn’t mean you have to pay for your kids college, but you do owe it to them to educate them about their options, trade-offs, and what debt means.  ---Follow friends on FIRETwitterInstagramFacebookLinkedInLeave us a voicemail or text us: 404-981-3370eMail us at:  friendsonfiremm@gmail.comVisit our website: www.friendsonfire.org---Other LinksMaggie’s Blog: Mostly Minimal LifeMike’s Book:  Your New Relationship with Money